PC World Komputer 1996 September/PCWK996.iso/autodesk/3ds/3ds3spec.txt

Text File | 1994-12-17 | 11KB | 230 lines

                    3D Studio (R) Release 3 Feature Summary
                    ---------------------------------------

3D Studio Release 3:  Imagination Is Your Only Limit

A true production studio for the desktop, Autodesk 3D Studio software
is a comprehensive environment for creating professional-quality
animations and high-resolution still images.  Compatible with Animator
Pro(TM), AutoCAD(R) and Visual Link(TM) software, the product comes with
extensive documentation, sample files and device drivers for a wide
range of graphics cards.   Based on highly extensible open architecture,
3D Studio is supported by a rapidly expanding community of
independent developers and can be exactly tailored to individual needs.


3D Modeling
-----------
*  Program includes a full-featured 3D modeler with floating-point
   accuracy.
*  3D objects can be precisely arrayed in linear and radial patterns.
*  Modeling techniques include spline, surface, mesh and "primitive"
   creation tools with control down to the vertex level--in multiple
   viewport configurations.
*  Objects can be modeled over raster bitmaps for reference, and
   background images or video-safe frames are now observable in any
   viewport.
*  IPAS plug-in procedural modeling tools (i.e., fractal mountains,
   ripples, waves and particle system generators) are fully supported.
*  3D Studio directly loads 3D AutoCAD DXF(TM) files by Layer, Color or
   Entity and exports .DXF files.  ASCII file import/export is also
   supported.
*  2D Bezier spline-creation tools include Lines, Curves, Arcs, Quads,
   Circles, Ellipses, Regular Polygons and Freehand.
*  3D Studio now reads and writes Adobe Illustrator (.AI) Bezier spline
   files, which can then be saved from the Shaper and loaded into other
   drawing packages.  PostScript(R) (Type 1) and URW fonts can be
   manipulated and extruded as spline entities.
*  Powerful extrusion tools allow models to be constructed from
   multiple-spline cross sections interpolated along a 3D spline path.
*  Spline-based deformation of models includes Twist, Bend, Scale,
   Teeter-Totter and Bevel.
*  Spline-mesh models can be automatically constructed from top, front
   and side profiles.
*  3D Studio supports 2D and 3D Boolean modeling for carving, drilling
   and sculpting, and 2D Boolean operations for union, intersection and
   subtraction of 2D profiles.
*  Fast screen redraw modes allow interactive control of complex scenes.
*  Full control over smoothing groups and face normals is supported.
*  3D Studio provides texture map alignment tools for precise map
   placement and scaling.
*  An unlimited number of cameras with real-time zoom, dolly and field-
   of-view control can be used, as well as the new 3D Studio variable
   perspective camera.
*  Keyboard coordinate entry is supported.
*  User-definable Snaps and Grids are available.
*  The size of models and scenes is limited only by amount of disk space
   and/or memory.


Materials Editing
-----------------
*  3D Studio includes an extremely fast 24-bit interactive environment
   for creating or editing any surface material appearance (with alpha
   control and automatic NTSC color checking); individual maps and masks
   can be created from either the RGB or alpha component of a bitmap.
*  The new Face Mapping tool automatically fits bitmaps to a model's
   surface topology without assignment of mapping coordinates (i.e., cube
   mapping, icosahedron mapping, etc.); it can also be used to create a
   pseudo-hidden-line removal mode.
*  An extensive materials library is supplied.
*  Color values and map tinting can be controlled via RGB or HLS
   sliders.
*  Multiple texture, reflection, bump, opacity, specular, shininess and
   self-illumination mapping can be combined for complex surfaces; all
   mapping types can be composited with masks for each mapping type.
   The intensity values in the mask modify the corresponding effect.
*  Individual maps and masks can have individual texture-filtering
   settings and their own UV scaling, offset and rotation.
*  Automatic environment mapping can be used to achieve realistic
   reflections.
*  Solid procedural and IPAS textures, including samples such as fractal
   dents, noise, marble and woodgrain, are provided.
*  Separate control of diffuse, ambient and specular light components for
   simulating materials such as plastics or rubber is available.
*  Sophisticated transparency and reflection blurring controls provided.
*  Flat, Gouraud, Phong and Metal-shading Modes are supported.
   Wireframe is now a special attribute for Flat, Gouraud, Phong and Metal
   shading that allows texture-mapped wireframe materials, metallic
   wireframes, etc.  Metal shading provides metallic properties based on
   true dielectric physical attributes.


Rendering
---------
*  Photorealistic rendering is supported at 8, 16, 24 or 32 bits for still
   images or animations (including alpha channel for compositing).
*  64-bit Super Truecolor computation supports display and rendering
   gamma correction for accurate colors on any output device.
*  The 3D Studio renderer can render on a frame-by-frame basis across a
   network.  Any machine on the network can be a workstation or a slave at
   any time and the network adapts to any change automatically.
*  Rendering to screen and/or to files at any resolution is possible in both
   frame and field modes.
*  The visual, interactive Network Queue Control can be used to
   rearrange network process orders, start and stop processes or view log
   files.
*  Network assignment can be automatic (to any available machine) or
   specific PCs can be assigned to particular processes.
*  Up to 9,999 network slaves can be powered up without hardware
   locks, at no extra charge.
*  Each network machine has a unique name and ID and generates a log
   file that can be viewed from any other machine.
*  Network rendering can be output to local or server drives.
*  3D Studio now supports motion blur with assignable shutter speed and
   blur amount.
*  Workstation-quality analytical aliasing is built in.
*  Layered fog, full-screen fog and distance shading can be used for
   atmospheric effects.
*  Animated texture mapping uses .FLC files or sequenced images.
*  An unlimited number of shadow-casting spotlights with color control
   can be used, with photorealistic shadow quality via subtle control over
   spotlight falloff.
*  New spotlight option with optional ray tracing provides crisp shadows
   in any size scene; omni lights and spotlights now have controllable
   falloff over distance; for precise control, individual objects can be
   excluded from any omni or spotlight effect.
*  Spotlights can project still or animated colored bitmaps to simulate
   slide or film projectors; spotlights can be circular or rectangular;
   rectangular spotlight barn door feature can be used; spotlights can be
   rolled for animated rotating effects.
*  Any size .BMP, .GIF, .JPG, .TGA or .TIF file can be loaded into any
   size display.
*  Images can be saved in color, .GIF, .JPG, .TGA or .TIF; .JPG files are
   supported (with variable compression); .BMP files are supported (black
   and white, 16 color/gray, 256 color/gray, Truecolor).
*  Backgrounds for renderings can be solid colors, gradients, picture
   files, animations or external procedures.


Animation
---------
*  3D Studio provides professional keyframing control over objects,
   cameras and lights.
*  The program offers extensive spline-based motion-path creation and
   controls, including automatic banking.
*  Surface materials can be morphed (i.e., transparent plastic morphs to
   solid metal).
*  Real-time animation previewer can be used for shaded motion tests.
*  Low- or high-resolution .FLI or .FLC files for Animator Pro(R) can be
   created or viewed.
*  Full object hierarchies with independent-object pivot points are
   supported.
*  The program provides accurate .DXF motion-path importing from
   AutoCAD software.
*  Hierarchies can selectively inherit position, rotation, scale, squash,
   stretch in any combination.
*  Animation from libraries can be applied to any object.
*  Squash and stretch can be controlled automatically.
*  True 3D object metamorphosis and object instancing are supported.
*  Ambient and spotlight characteristics can be animated; ambient light is
   keyframable.
*  Camera and lights can be slaved to each other or to objects; camera
   position, field-of-view and roll can be animated.
*  Advanced animation support (e.g., bounce) is available via IPAS.
*  Acceleration and deceleration can be controlled for visual ease-
   in/ease-out.


Special Effects and Postproduction
----------------------------------
*  Video Post feature allows compositing of unlimited layers of images
   and animations with precise alpha control.
*  Entire 3D "movies" can be edited inside the program for first-
   generation final presentations (to video or .FLC format).
*  Full timeline control is supported with transition effects like fade-in,
   fade-out and user-customizable transitions.
*  Add independently developed IPAS effects during rendering for such
   effects as posterization, blurs, halos, oil paints, particle systems and
   cross-star filters.


The World-Creating Toolkit(TM) on CD-ROM
------------------------------------
3D Studio provides more than 500MB of prebuilt objects, textures and
backgrounds, royalty-free.

Box Contents
Contents include 3.5-inch or 5.25-inch diskettes, Reference Manual,
Tutorials Manual (including more than 20 tutorials), Installation Guide,
Advanced User's Guide and the World-Creating Toolkit for 3D Studio
Release 3 on CD-ROM.

System Requirements
*  IBM or COMPAQ 386/486/Pentium-based computers or 100 percent
   compatibles
*  MS-DOS 3.3 or later
*  8MB RAM
*  Hard disk with 20MB of space available
*  Intel math coprocessor
*  Super VGA display device (at least 640 x 480 x 256 colors)
*  Pointing device (Microsoft-compatible mouse, SummaSketch(R)-
   compatible digitizing tablet, or Autodesk Device Interface(TM) [ADI(R)]
   pointing device)

Optional
*  Targa(TM)-compatible display (e.g., Truevision)
*  Autodesk Device Driver (ADI)-compatible displays
*  ADI-compatible printing devices
*  ADI-compatible VTR controllers (e.g., Sony EVO 9650 or LVR 3000)
*  CD-ROM drive
*  LAN software and cabling

For the location of the Authorized Autodesk Multimedia Dealer nearest
you in the United States and Canada, please call 1-800-879-4233.

Autodesk, Inc.
Multimedia Division
2320 Marinship Way
Sausalito, CA  94965
Other offices worldwide.

Autodesk, the Autodesk logo, AutoCAD, ADI, Autodesk Animator and
3D Studio are registered trademarks of Autodesk, Inc.   Animator Pro,
DXF, FLI, Autodesk Device Interface, Visual Link and World-Creating
Toolkit are trademarks of Autodesk, Inc.  All other brand or product
names or trademarks belong to their respective holders.

(C)Copyright 1993 Autodesk, Inc.  All rights reserved.